How old are you? Are you a full time Bus dweller? Bus Generation 2.0?

[Rick 74 MC-8]

I'm 60 wife is 55. We bought the bus in 2000. It was a enertainer bought new and converted by a small charter co. We used it like that until 08 when I changed the floorplan to standard rear bedroom. We probably average 5000 miles a year mostly  large family vacation with kids are grandkids. Then I pull a enclosed 20' car trailer for toys and extra sleeping. (Self contained and sleeps 6) I can sleep 8 in the bus. We really enjoy traveling with the hole family. Don't know if we'll ever fulltime but want to travel more in the bus if I ever retire.

[gg04]

65 & Love of my life is 64.. In our 4th modern bus conversion..Bought and built this one in 1999,2000.. Kept our house in Gulfport for storage..Back here at the moment remodeling and repairing from Katrina, and having quadruple bypass surgery..doctor's say I will be  able to go ....and get my competition license back in October....rdw

[Lostranger]

I'm 62. Bev is three years younger. Bought our first bus when I was 49. Had it for nine years. Learned a lot. Been full timing for 3-1/2 years now, but we spent the first two years in a converted step van. Our Gillig low floor is still primitive, but it's come a long way. It's a modern bus, and it's nearly ideal for our needs.

We love living in the bus, and we have no interest in a fixed foundation home. Sophia has about 250k miles on the clock, and I figure that if we die when we ought to, she'll be a home as long as we need one. We heat with wood and use off-grid solar power.

Jim

[Van]

I'm Eighteen (with 40 years experience   ) Purchased our Iggle in 07. Managed to work on it for a few years to get it usable, not full timing yet but can't wait for the day   Been fine tuning my skills over at B&B Coach Works for the past 3 years on everyone else's coach (Lord help me) and very little on mine lol! We do take it out as much as possible, and make the occasional bus rally when one comes to town. I have learned to do much with little in a short amount of time.

 Keep bussin my friends  
      Van

[Emcemv]

Great thread, learned a lot about everyone!  I'm 59 and Nancy is a few years younger:), We fell into the bus one day, it was owned by a old family friend who passed on and we never imagined we could own it but worked out.  The bus fits into our plan to move to Maine near the ocean within the next year or so, we will use the bus to escape in the winter.  The bus was incredibly well kept and maintained, my biggest issue that is holding us back is tires and I'm regretting that it is a combo with 10 tires.  We are finally getting close to pulling the trigger on new tires and have several trips planned for this fall. We have not been able to use it as much as we should and I expect we will use it more once we downsize to one house in Maine.  I have as much fun working on the bus as using it, worked on cars all my life but this is the first bus and I'm lovin it! We both plan to work another 7-8 years if things go as planned, and then we hope to use the bus more.  I have learned more from the experts on this forum than anywhere else, it is an incredible place and much more helpful than the FB groups. 

No plans for us to full time, we will be doing trips and rally's and here's hoping that diesel prices stay down!

[wg4t50]

Ok, Age 73, ran the MC7 over 20 yrs, too many med issues to be able to do the needed upkeep, so sold/gave it away and bought a Foretravel with the 500 Cummins, The Bus & RV are toys, The DW does not travel, so I am free to go when, where at my schedule, been averaging 8,500 mile a year. Travel NY to Fl, SD, WY, MT, TX and all in between,   Home in VA. Home not for sale, the lawyers will handle that one day. Big regret: Bought the MC7 in 1988, should have bought it many yrs sooner, but was also enjoying my Piper Arrow longer than should.
Dave M

[krcevs]

Kim and I are 53 and we were looking for something to tour the country with that we could make our own. Found our 4107 by happenstance when we went to look at an eagle. Kim fell in love with the buffalo so here we are. I was a master mechanic for 30 years and now I fight fires for a living. Gives me time to work on a whole house remodel, landscaping and a bus conversion. No wonder I'm so tired all the time!

Ken

[goldgiter]

I am 60 and Debby is 61.
I have always had some type RV but bought my first bus in Dec '14.
I am planning to retire next year and am hoping to be a fulltimer after that,'bout got her talked into it!!!!!!

Wes

[Scott & Heather]

I'm 32 and my wife is 30. We have full-timed now in our MCI 9 for 4 years (self converted). We just purchased a 1992 MCI 102C3 shell and will be converting it too. Owning two buses simultaneously thrust us officially into "busnuthood" but we also have our first child due October 2 of this year. A little girl will take up some time and slow our conversion process a little I suppose

[Debo]

I'm 53 and work in law enforcement. As of today, I have exactly 500 days left in my working career. My wife and I had planned to cruise on our sailboat in retirement, but her health issues made us rethink that, so we sold the boat and bought a bus ('81 MC9). I've been converting it for about 5 years and it looks like I'll finish on schedule for "the great escape" in December 2016. We plan to live on it full-time after my retirement. While I've been converting it we've been able to make use of it and have taken trips locally, and about 1200 miles to Florida. I've done all of the planning, plumbing, electrical, structural repairs and welding, etc. It's been a blast, but I got a kick out of something I read earlier - "No wonder I'm so tired." Lol.

[Scott & Heather]

Debo,

do you have a bus project thread? Any photos of your conversion progress?

[Seangie]

Hey All -

My name is Sean.  And well....no other way to say it.  I am a busnut.

I'm 43 and my wife is 23.  Well, at least she looks likes she is 23.  We have been fulltiming for over 2 years now and have loved every minute of it.  One thing that has really captured our hearts is the "brotherhood" of bus nuts.  We are all different and come from all different walks of life but anytime we meet someone who owns a bus it seems like there is an instant kinship and lots of stories to tell.  Like we instantly understand each others joys and pains.

We have 4 kids and are blessed to be able to travel and live the lifestyle that we have.  Not sure when or where we will settle down..if ever.

Our home is a 1984 eagle model 10S (single axle) lovingly named "Mack" after Mackinak Island, Mackinac being the Indian name for Turtle.

We definitely have another bus build in us and are kind of Jealous of Scott n Heathers new build (Scott, don't tell Mack but Craig and I have been secretly looking at other buses)

Our website is www.herdifturtles.org

Look forward to meeting you all as we roll down the highways and biways. 

-Sean

[Jim Eh.]

Hi All,

Welcome to tonight's meeting, My name is Jim.       And I have a bus.

I have only had three jobs in my life. My wife and my two kids. I provided for them as a now owner in a family business. I have done several things over the years from fuel transport to a urethane spray operation to an HD Truck/Trailer and yes Bus service facility. Light on the bus service but we do get them in from time to time. Great source of ideas.

Our kids are grown and gone on their own and my wide Sandy and I still love camping. That would put us a hair under the 60 mark. Lately we lean more to the travelling than the camping. We spent the last 10 years mostly seasonal camping in a 5th wheel ay a nearby lake with some trips mixed in.

For the first year of busing my wife and I plan on exploring our own province to visit all the town fairs, celebrations, and festivals that lets us get to see where we live. Never did have much desire to spend a couple of weeks on what others think may be an exotic destination. We are still fit enough to "enjoy"  our winters  here. Since the kids are gone and I now have time to take on a few hobbies I have started racing, cars that is, and yes mostly in winter. But summer is time to enjoy the destinations away from the city. Locally here we have everything from desert to boreal forest to lakes (10,000+) to hills (although they are called mountains meh, not really) to prairies all within a 6 - 8 hour drive.

I have had this, my first bus (MC12), for about 2-1/2 years of my (projected) 3 year conversion. OK you guys, don't choke on your coffee. I know, three years? But I may not be too far off. I get things done when the balance is level. Time and money. I figured while I have a nice size shop and help on staff, I may as well git 'er done. I have pretty much all the tools I will ever need to complete it and most of the skills to finish it. My biggest fault and downfall is I end up doing things over again because I don't like the way it was done or my direction has slightly changed.

My other friends are all retiring and either working on their cottage or buying one. Probably better equity in a cottage but for us, many more smiles per mile rolling down the highway. I would really like to become a full timer but my wife has to have her roots, for the family. I told her once we start distance travelling we can always park the bus in Florida or Texas and fly home for Xmas then fly back and continue on. She seemed to smile once again. So maybe someday ...

Nice meeting you all. Hope to do a face to face in the near future.

[Beesme]

Hey everyone I'm 51 and my love is 46 we have pd4106 have had it a few yrs we did the conversion . And love our bus we just got home today with it . We're not fulltimers yet ! But we hope to be by 2017 that's the year our last child grads from college. We do use it weekly though .. We've had every kind of rv there is and will never go back to the stick and staple days ... Just my opinion lol hope to run into other bus freaks someday haha see ya

[Debo]

Debo,

do you have a bus project thread? Any photos of your conversion progress?

Hey Scott!

I haven't really done a project thread, although I'm planning to start one here soon. I've been taking pictures along the way and have them, but I never really organized them (yet). A few years ago I built a home-built airplane and had to photograph and document everything for that process. I wanted the bus project to be a little less demanding so I didn't write things up in the early days like I should have. It's on my short list of things to do. I've snooped your conversion process pretty thoroughly though. Lol. It looks like you've had some great help along the way!